Wichita eagle., 1887-05-22

reCOll0Ct n1mSeu ana Blu UOWU prcClplU8te1y
and for ten minutes keep his eyes away.
Gradually, however, they would return to
the painting, and he would become abb
sorbed in a train of thought, whether
happy or painful could not tell, having
this canvas, or something that 1t sug-
gested, for the pivot round which 1t turned.
One Of Henry's charms was just such
an unconscious act IS this, done while ne
was thinking himself completely unreada-
BILE, and yet an act patent to the meanes5
understanding. Perhaps it f1attered ones
generosity, for it seemed to put MIN at
disadvantage as child might Do placed,
and his weakness called out your forbear-
ance and protection. Or 1t was more slnls-
ter. like the movements Of a snake trying
to conceal itself in scanty thlcket wnlcn
hid the cold small eyes and 1.-the neck, but
left to the light glittering loop here, .
smooth, scaled tail there.
This night he was in a communicative,
almost q garrulous, mood, and by some
now forgotten train Of talk hit upon
curious story of brother artist-why
thereon l did not realize until, on review
ing it, there seemed to be moral in 1t,
or, at any rate, an indication in the dlrec-
ton of that hobby Of his, the church IN
which he was educated. That might &C
count for his having begun to tell IL 10
me. Certainly not a blameworthy thing
after all, for this odd proselyting splrlI
seemed the most genuine sentiment In
character almost entirely given over to
the worship of self.
did not pay much attention to what he
was saving at first, because it was in re-
GARD to artists who stole his ideas, and on
that topic had enjoyed a varied assort-
ment of stories, some of which had foun-
dation in fact: the most of them, however,
were rank fables. But when he began to
talk about an artist who was a Catholic l
began to prick up my ears. Is he, l
vaguely pondered, about to perform one
of his feats of concealment and reveal
himself to me under the childlike bellef
that he has put me quite off the scent?
watched him in the freight and noted tho
pallor of his long face, countenance not
unlike those ugly but attractive men at
the court of Queen Elizabeth, narrow
faced, long jawed, weak in one way,
strong in another. His long forefnger
reached I'D beside his lean cheek and hol-
low temples till it was lost in his hair and
a great elf lock of the latter fell on his
gaunt wrist. Somber eyes gazed raptly
in the Goals and between the choked
| pauses the words came thick and quick.
An idea struck me suddenly. Not any
longer q practical Catholic, was the need
of confessing himself working within, and
causing him to tell me, his acquaintance,
what he ought to have told to some whom
he considered commissioned by heaven to
hear him?
"There was fellow student Of mine, "
| inf nf nd
of which he took no heed, "who had an
order from church to paint Madonna.
It was the occasion of his life, for he had
lived hitherto in grim fight with starva-
| ton, having been too proud to apply to
his relatives for belp in his distress. Money
| was given him to buy materials and hire
models; he went away for a week into the
country to be absolutely alone, and finding
that the country was less lonely than the
town. returned and did little but haunt
the churches. He was O good Catholic
then and complied with all the regulations
| of the church. At last-the idea he
sought came to him-but not at church.
| Oh, no. not while good thoughts were in
his mind-but at the opera while ballet
was being performed. He had gone there,
SO he told me, to escape from the pressure
1 u
it that among the crowd on the stage per
forming a part in the chorus after fashion
was a face which, if not in all respects
fitted for Madonna, was to the artists
eve perfect as model. That feature
changed bit, the other enlarged-anC
there was the Queen of Heaven, like and
vet unlike the type handed down with al
the imposing traditions of Italy! My
friend was wild with delight. He be
sieged the box Office and guarded the exit
from the stage. At last his divinity ap
peared shabby, demure, angered at his
impetuous address, but at last Modified,
interested appeased, and in fine persuaded
to come to his studio the following day.
''She was q young, she was a lovely, sht
was virtuous girl from the country, whom
series of cruel disasters had thrown OF
her own resources, and it was not long be
fore my friend came to value, admire, t.
love her in his own way-not a good way
it seems-and give her plainly to know hi
feelings. The folly of it will not be real
lied by you who are not an artist, for i
there is one thing more insane than anothe
it is for an artist to think of his model il
any but a severely professional way
However, my friend was young and fool
|
she. They lunched together, walked to
gether, read together. He taught her, s.
he thought, to be Christian, for she hat
belonged to some queer sect or other tina
protests against Protestants, such as on
country abounds in. The Madonna wa
almost, nay, it was quite finished when
what might have been foretold occurred
There was week of bliss, month o
| har hat md vol
were found on pier. The great river, il
whose babbling springs she had dabble'
her childish feet, took her to its bosom
away from the unkindneSs, the vilenes
| of mankind
Brown had brought the lean, long ham
before his face, but / caught the glitter Q
moisture on his cheek and his voice wa
husky.
"And the Madonna is now"
"Gone He could never bear to look a
it again. Taking his colors again after
year had passed away he obliterated tn
whole picture. Over that he painted
view of the North river as one may see
in winter at nightfall, when the ferry
boats crunch through floating ice and tn
steamers chafe and groan at their moor
ings. when the air is full of sleet and tn
lights of vessels in midstream gaze at yo
like the ewes of baleful monsters. Oh
what a fool that man wasl First to ALLOW
himself to love model then to trifle wit
her, then-but nonsensel What is it t
me? Curse him. To cap it all-such
painting as thats A melodramati" thing
Instead Of covering her with daisies an
buttercups, planting above her beautiful
trees that might whisper comfort to tn
et>A r.,
: grave. giving her at least after death tn
satisfaction of a plorious sky and n vie,